Feeling pain in your ribs or chest wall can be alarming. You may immediately worry that you’re having a heart attack. Don’t ignore it. Many different conditions, from the very minor to the quite serious – including a heart attack – can cause rib pain. Our experts are here to help quickly pinpoint the cause and provide the best treatment for you. Show
And if a broken rib is the cause of your pain, you’re in the right place. We specialize in rib fracture stabilization surgery so you can heal faster with less pain and return to your everyday activities more quickly. What is rib cage pain?In general, rib pain makes it hard for you to take a deep breath, twist your body or put pressure on your chest. A range of conditions can cause sore ribs, include a pulled muscle, bruised or broken rib, or even acid reflux. Broken ribs are quite common and can take six weeks to six months to heal. Sometimes though, pain in your rib cage can be a sign of something more serious, such as a heart attack or even cancer. Because it’s difficult to determine what might be causing your rib pain, get emergency medical help. If you think you’re having a heart attack, call 911 immediately. Rib pain causesDon’t take any chances if you’re experiencing rib or chest pain. Sometimes this pain can be caused by a heart attack. Get emergency care right away; it could save your life. If a heart condition isn’t the cause of your sore ribs, it could be from a:
Rib pain diagnosisTo precisely identify the cause of your rib pain, we’ll ask about your discomfort, listen carefully to your symptoms and give you a thorough physical exam. We may also order radiographic imaging, such as an X-ray or CT scan, to help diagnose the cause. Find out more about our heart and vascular testing and diagnosis. Rib pain treatmentWe’ll develop a treatment plan that works best for you based on your pain level and the underlying injury or condition that’s causing your non-cardiac rib pain. We may recommend:
The ribs protect some of your body’s most important organs inside your chest—including your heart and lungs. As a cardiologist, I focus on this area of the body and I understand how complex it can be to distinguish between all the vital systems that converge around the ribs when pain appears. There are 12 ribs on each side of your chest, and they run from your spine in the back to your sternum, or breast bone, in the front. They are connected to your breast bone by cartilage, which is a strong but flexible tissue that allows the rib cage to expand during breathing. Muscles called intercostal muscles run between adjacent ribs and help move the chest wall, especially during breathing. Pain in your rib cage can come from any of these components. If you’re experiencing pain between or around your ribs, paying close attention to your symptoms can help you identify the cause. Symptoms to Watch ForSince there are a variety of causes that can lead to pain in your ribs, it can be helpful to chat with a doctor about any other symptoms you’re experiencing. These symptoms can be clues to what’s causing your pain. The following are just some of the symptoms that often appear with pain in the ribs:
When you use the K Health app, we’ll ask you about many symptoms related to your pain in order to get a full picture of what’s going on with your health. Here are the most common symptoms our users reported experiencing with their rib cage pain:
Rib Pain from CoughingIf your ribs hurt when you cough or sneeze, it could be because coughing causes repeated movement of your intercostal muscles, as well as other muscles like the muscles in your abdomen. When you’ve got rib pain from coughing too much, this repeated movement, particularly if it’s frequent and forceful, could result in a pulled muscle causing pain or sore ribs. A cold can also cause pleuritis, which is inflammation of the lining of your lungs and the inner aspect of your chest wall (called pleura). I hear from many users who complain of cough, but a little less than 1% also experience pain in their ribs with coughing. According to data from over 8,000 health dialogues within the K Health app, women aged 26-55 are 18% more likely to report this type of pain with coughing compared to men of the same age. So while it’s relatively rare, it is more common among women. Possible Conditions Causing Rib Cage PainOur app works by showing you how doctors have diagnosed symptoms like rib cage pain in people like you in the past. But since we’ve had over 8,000 chats with users who reported pain in their ribs, we took a look at the conditions most commonly associated with this symptom. Here’s what you need to know about these conditions:
Other Less Common Conditions
Other causes may include a sprain in the muscles of your neck (cervical sprain) or inflammation in your stomach (peptic ulcer disease), parts of your body which are located nearby. Rib or chest pain is also commonly associated with mood disorders, like anxiety. Lung cancer may also cause rib cage pain, although it is a less common cause. How to Address Your Rib Pain and Possible TreatmentsYour rib cage is a collection of bones and tissues, and any of these components can cause rib pain, so it’s important to explore the cause. Anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen can help with pain. If your pain is caused by cough, you can try a cough suppressant. While I always recommend a personal assessment, here are the most common ways people address their pain:
Prevention TipsHere are some things you can do to avoid or minimize pain in your ribs:
How K Health Can HelpDid you know you can access online urgent care with K Health? Check your symptoms, explore conditions and treatments, and if needed, text with a healthcare provider in minutes. K Health’s AI-powered app is HIPAA compliant and is based on 20 years of clinical data. K Health articles are all written and reviewed by MDs, PhDs, NPs, or PharmDs and are for informational purposes only. This information does not constitute and should not be relied on for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment. What happens if your left rib hurts?Pain under the left rib cage may be caused by damage to the spleen because the spleen is on the left side of the body, but pain in that area is more frequently caused by the same conditions that cause pain in the lower chest and upper abdomen on both sides: heart attack, pancreatitis, peptic ulcer disease, ...
When should I worry about pain under my left rib cage?Chest pain can sometimes signal a medical emergency, such as a heart attack. If you're feeling pain in your left ribs, it's best not to ignore it. Heart attack symptoms include : pain, discomfort, or a heavy feeling in your chest, usually in the middle or on the left side.
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